Demolition of Bay Street home stretches on after more hazardous materials found

Friday

Aug 22, 2014 at 9:20 PMAug 22, 2014 at 9:24 PM

Jo C. Goode Herald News Staff Reporter @jgoodeHN

FALL RIVER — The saying “the best-laid plans of mice and men often go astray” could apply to the effort to take down the arson-damaged two-family home at 1945 Bay St. The effort started Wednesday but was delayed after crews found hazardous material inside the dwelling.

“We do it by the state building codes, and we have to do it right,” city Building Inspector Joseph Biszko said.

Biszko and the crews from the Johnston, Rhode Island-based AA Wrecking & Asbestos Abatement Co. hoped that the building would be demolished by the end of Wednesday, but in the morning, workers found asbestos-wrapped pipes in the basement and began cleaning them up after getting permission from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management.

Biszko said when crews got to work tearing down the structure with heavy equipment, more hazardous materials were found in the burned-out rubble.

As of late Friday, Biszko was still waiting to hear from the owner of AA Wrecking regarding how much more money it would cost to remove and dispose of the materials.

So far, the demolition of the structure has cost $24,200.

The city will place a lien on the property. Biszko identified the owners as Theresa Almeida and Judy Rossi. They were sent a notice declaring the building as a dangerous property but they never responded, he said.

The vacant home was targeted three times in eight months by arsonists, with the first fire set on Christmas 2013 and the most recent in July. In response to neighbors' concerns, the city fenced in the property to keep out trespassers.

Biszko said the fencing has been re-erected until the demolition resumes.